(a) Two or more claimants with a common complaint, or their authorized representatives, or a service agency may request the consolidation of appeals involving a common question of law or fact. The hearing officer may grant the request for consolidation if the hearing officer finds that consolidation would not result in prejudice or undue inconvenience to any party, undue delay, or a violation of any claimant’s right to confidentiality unless the claimant agrees to have otherwise confidential information revealed to other claimants. Requests for consolidation shall be forwarded to the hearing officer, and postmarked within five working days of the receipt of the notice sent pursuant to Section 4711. The hearing officer shall notify the parties and authorized representatives, if any, of a request for consolidation and shall afford an opportunity for any written objections to be submitted.
(b) In all consolidated hearings, each individual claimant shall have all the rights specified in subdivision (f) of Section 4701. A separate written decision shall be issued to each claimant and respective authorized representatives.
(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 416, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2001.)